It’s the ultimate traveler’s conundrum: where should I go on vacation and when? Getting the timing right can mean many things, from avoiding the crowds in Dubrovnik or the monsoon season in Goa, to catching Ethiopia’s Timkat festival or the cherry blossoms in Japan.

Luckily, we work with travel companies that know their countries back-to-front – often, because they’ve lived and worked there for years and know exactly when the whale migrations start or when mountain trails are too snowy for hiking (but perfect for snow shoeing).

Got a place in mind already? Our honest travel guides have the specifics on the best time to go. But if you’d like a month-by-month guide on when to go where, then keep reading.